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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The leader of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu will remain in detention after the Supreme Court adjourned hearing of his appeal to September 14.
The apex court adjourned the suit on Thursday.
Kanu had approached Supreme Court to appeal the judgement of the Court of Appeal stopping his release from DSS custody.
The Court of Appeal had in October 2022, granted a stay of execution of its judgement, which discharged and acquitted Kanu of terrorism charges filed against him by the Federal Government.
In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel led by Justice Haruna Tsamani, the appellate court granted the application filed by the Federal Government pending the hearing and determination of the appeal before the Supreme Court.
Kanu has been in detention since he was exradited to Nigeria from from Kenya in June 2021.
The IPOB leader was subsequently re-arraigned on an amended 15-count charge.
On April 8, 2022, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, struck out eight of the 15 counts.
The remaining seven counts were later quashed by the Court of appeal on October 13, 2022.
During Thursday’s proceedings, the apex court granted the application of Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) to file additional processes in response to Kanu’s suit, which was done on Tuesday.
The apex court said even if it proceeds to hear the appeal, there is no space within its calendar to write and deliver the verdict within the 90-day deadline.
The case was therefore adjourned till September 14, 2023.